posted on December 6, 2002 09:25:10 PM
I don't cancel auctions and sell direct. Don't do it, won't ever do it. For one thing, it is against eBay rules. Secondly, I have a lot of repeat customers, and a sure way to lose my customers is to start canceling auctions they plan on sniping.
I sell antique French porcelain, the specialty pieces, do pretty well on eBay because I possess strong business skills, love what I sell with a passion, and I am a Silver Level Power Seller, listing only ten auctions a week.
Used to be I got maybe one inquiry a year from an eBayer offering me bucks to end an auction and sell direct to them.
However, since late September, every time I put up a run of auctions, I am getting 1-2 emails from eBayers asking me to cancel an auction and sell direct.
I answer their emails politely and with a firm no.
The thing is, they never bother to bid on the auction, so they could not have wanted it all that much. The auctions might end up higher or lower than what the person offered, and on the lower ones there is still no bid. The auctions are usually unique decorative pieces with high price guide values.
Who are these people?
One possibility is it is eBay staff member trying to lure a seller into doing something against eBay policy.
Another possibility is the person is a competitor, using another id to try to get me to say something compromising and a reportable offense.
Or the person is a dumb twit.
But why the increase in the number of contacts from these types of individuals? Anybody else experiencing anything similar?
posted on December 6, 2002 10:14:23 PM
I get a few of these. My first impression is that they are NARU and can't bid. My i.d. is my email address, so they can contact me direct without going through the "ask the seller a question" link. Whenever they do this, I do a search on the email address they are sending from, and have yet to find one to be a valid registered member. I always take it as a token of good luck, because usually my auctions close at a much higher price than what they offer. No way would I end an auction early to make an off side deal, unless there were some extremely extenuating circumstances and the requestor was a repeat customer.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on December 7, 2002 12:35:29 AM
I get people who'll say:
"I'll give you X for it" they always contact me via the "Ask a Seller a Question" since I sell the same stuff every day, I sell them the item and often still sell the item that was on eBay too.
If it works for you do it, if it doesn't don't.
In my case, if I didn't do it, I would be throwing away money -- obviously, these people would rather deal with me directly or just feel like they got a better deal, why not accomodate them?
posted on December 7, 2002 03:08:48 AM
I have had an increase in people asking me to seel them an item after the auction closed for less than the starting bid. the last one just told me "I don't have much money so I was wondering if you would sell this jacket for..." As someone else said I do not want to jeopardize my eBay account for one of these people.
posted on December 7, 2002 07:06:31 AMthey never bother to bid on the auction
They never will. What you are dealing with are bottom feeders who are looking to snap up a bargain.
I would not cancel an ongoing auction for them. If they want it they can bid.
posted on December 7, 2002 08:01:59 AM
I guess the rest of you have different customers then me -- then again, I sell the same stuff week in and week out, maybe you don't.
The people who want to make deals pay faster then the people who bid, in fact, they ALWAYS pay -- can't say that for my bidders.
They typically turn into repeat customers and/or refer their friends.
They're more knowledgeable about the products, and are in general, easier to work with.
I never had any of them sending me nasty letters because they won an item on the 3rd - paid for it on the 18th and are mad that it's not here on the 21st so what if the 19th and 20th were weekends and they paid after the shipping deadline in the 18th.
In other words, before you jump to conclusions because someone wants to make a deal, evaluate the situation first.
But like I said, since I always sell the same stuff -- people don't ask me to cancel auctions.
PLUS -- I get a of people contacting me about Bulk Buys, which is nice -- maybe that's not the case with some of you.
Anyway, I treat every person that contacts me (even the drooling retarded idiots) like potential $ --- but that's just me.
posted on December 7, 2002 08:04:53 AM
If it's a new item that I can easily get more of, I'll leave it listed as an auction and sell them another one. No one really loses with this.
If it's a hard to find one-of-a-kind item, I'll say no.
posted on December 7, 2002 08:06:18 AM
I think I left my main point off my previous post:
I DO NOT end auctions early. I have no problems selling off-eBay if the customer wants to and I can accomodate him, but I won't rip off my auction bidders to do it.
posted on December 7, 2002 12:17:34 PM
I have had about 5-10 ppl do that to me also, I usually ignore their email till the end of the auction. Thats my way around it, and if it doesnt sell i will ask them. If it does sell and theyre not the high bidder i just ignore them completely. Thats my take.
posted on December 7, 2002 12:24:20 PM
In response to:
"I have had an increase in people asking me to seel them an item after the auction closed for less than the starting bid. the last one just told me "I don't have much money so I was wondering if you would sell this jacket for..." As someone else said I do not want to jeopardize my eBay account for one of these people."
Uh, how is it against eBay rules? Someone knows you have a product to sell, they contact you, and you sell it to them. This isn't fee avoidance, this is just some buyer who is trying to buy something. The fact that you listed it for sale on eBay does not preclude you from selling it elsewhere just because it didn't sell the first time.
posted on December 7, 2002 12:36:23 PM
jrome, the Ebay rules are pretty specific on canceling an auction to sell to a buyer. Maybe someone else can find the appropriate policies and post them. The rule of thumb, I believe, is if the contact is initiated by the buyer through eBay.
As others said, it is too risky to do such if 1)you jeopardize your selling status and 2)jeopardize your customer base.
But like with others, if you sell lots of the same thing over and over and over, you can sell to the buyer contact without ending an auction.
The jeopardy is with those of use who sell unique one-of-a-kind items, whether antique or newer.
What I don't understand is why there are so many more buyers making this contact. It seems real brazen to me.
And it seems to indicate a shift in overall bidding strategy and buyers' attitudes, a shift that is not in the best interests of sellers.
posted on December 7, 2002 02:38:18 PM
I won't cancel to sell either, just not worth it. At least you have some recourse if they don't pay through ebay. If they are willing to break the rules for this, what else are they willing to do?
I've had some funny transaction questions on half, people making me offers on items for sale. Since this is a fixed price, I find that funny. I usually make a counter offer back that is higher than my selling price. I hope they get the message.
Another asked me if I would give him a break on the shipping. That one I sent a polite note that I have no control over shipping with half, he should ask them if they would consider it. I wonder if he followed my advice, lol.
posted on December 7, 2002 04:15:17 PM
I haven't noticed an increase in people asking me to end auctions early although I have had people ask in the past. For the most part, I won't do it. The few times I have, it's been for items that I'd re-listed several times which still weren't getting bids. I was thrilled to end the auctions early in those few cases and FINALLY sell the things!
posted on December 7, 2002 06:21:53 PM
tea....I think it's just a coincidence. I don't think there's anything sinister or mysterious going on. Just the usual bottom-feeders and reserve-askers. You have a small sample in the number of auctions you run, and I think it's just coincidence. Go about your business as usual.
I had one reserve-asker last week. Wrote me to tell me he needed to know my reserve so he wouldn't waste MY time bidding. I told him politely that if he just bid, this would take him 5 seconds, and take none of MY time. By writing the letter, he wasted his time in writing it, and wasted my time in responding to it.
It's also the time of the year when the odd things are prone to occur due to increased (amateur) bidders. And Ebay is advertising alot.
